Pesto

Pesto is a great sauce, it’s herby and oily and meets all of your needs. Basil tastes like walking through a field of basil and eating the basil. Add in garlic, nuts, and olive oil and you’ve got a winner.  It’s also easy! Much like salad dressing, you shouldn’t buy pesto in the store, you can make it at home with little trouble. Char some nuts and garlic, process it up with the basil, oil, salt, and pepper then mix in some parmesan and you’re done.  Cook some pasta and you’re done! It does, however, rely on you using good ingredients so use good oil, basil, and cheese, it makes a big difference.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup pine nuts
• 1 cup fresh basil packed tight
• 7 tblsp olive oil (GOOD OLIVE OIL)
• 3 cloves garlic (unpeeled)
• ¼ cup finely shredded parmesan cheese (GOOD CHEESE)
• 1 lb pasta
• Salt
• Pepper

Get started by taking a non-stick pan and heating it up on medium-low heat. Add the unpeeled garlic and keep an eye on it.  Once the cloves get nice brown spots on them, turn them over and brown the opposite sides. Take them out and let them coo.  Meanwhile, add in the pine nuts and toast them. Keep an eye on them, they will toast quickly.  Keep them moving.  Should take a few minutes.

Add the olive oil, basil, peeled garlic, nuts, and about one half teaspoon of salt and pepper to a food processor or blender – but really you should have a food processor – and process them. Pause periodically to scrape down the edges and ensure a smooth sauce. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and add in the cheese.  Mix it all together and check the consistency.  Add oil to make it less viscous.

Cook up some pasta and whatever else you want in it and add the pesto, mix it together and enjoy! You’re welcome. Don’t buy pesto in the store again, that’s dumb.